This undated image, provided by the Colorado Symphony, shows the orchestra’s musicians performing at Boettcher Concert Hall, in Denver. The Denver city attorney has given his nod to the Colorado Symphony’s changes to plans for marijuana-themed fundraising concerts.DENVER – Denver is pleased with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra’s efforts to align its bring-your-own-cannabis fundraising concerts with laws that authorize – but still regulate – marijuana use in Colorado, the city attorney said Wednesday.
“We are pleased the (symphony) revisited their planned events and worked to come into compliance with state and city laws,” city attorney Scott Martinez said in a brief statement issued by Mayor Michael Hancock’s office.
Earlier, Martinez had expressed concern that audiences were going to smoke marijuana in public, which is illegal even though selling and consuming marijuana has been legal under Colorado law since January. On Tuesday, the symphony said three events first announced in April, dubbed Classically Cannabis and scheduled to kick off later this month at a private Denver gallery, would be invitation-only. The symphony also removed information about the events from its website and is refunding tickets purchased already.
“From the beginning, our goals have been to support fundraising for the Colorado Symphony and to reach out to a culturally diverse audience,” Jerome H. Kern, the symphony’s chief executive office, said in a statement Tuesday.
The symphony says it expects to raise nearly $200,000 from Classically Cannabis. The first concert, on May 23, will feature a brass ensemble composed of symphony members. No program has been announced for any of the concerts, including a second one on July 18 and the last on Aug. 15.